Several opposition party candidates in Honduras have supported severing ties with China in favor of restoring diplomatic relations with Taiwan, as campaigns heat up ahead of November’s presidential election in the Central American nation.
The University of San Pedro Sula hosted a presidential debate on Friday last week ahead of primary elections on March 9.
Candidates from the National Party and Liberal Party expressed support for restoring diplomatic ties with Taiwan and severing relations with China, reversing a decision made in 2023 to switch recognition.
Photo: Reuters
Salvador Nasralla, former Honduran vice president and current Liberal Party candidate, said that if he were elected president, he would restore diplomatic relations with Taiwan despite potential Chinese retaliation.
Restoring relations with Taiwan would improve Honduras’ relationship with the US and enhance the nation’s international status, he said.
Nasralla said he not only supports restoring relations with Taiwan, but also accused China of “exploiting” Honduras and “colonizing” the country through a free-trade agreement (FTA).
China’s dumping of surplus goods has destroyed local small and medium-sized businesses, he said, adding that it has failed to live up to its promises regarding foreign aid.
Nasralla also accused Honduran President Xiomara Castro of “selling” the country’s sovereignty to China.
Two candidates from the National Party, Ana Garcia de Hernandez and Roberto Martinez Lozano, also expressed support for Taiwan.
In prior National Party administrations, Honduras maintained relations with Taiwan while trading with China, showing that the options were not mutually exclusive, Lozano said.
Lozano said he would support immediately re-establishing diplomatic ties if elected.
Castro broke off relations with Taiwan in March 2023, but the decision has not been without its critics in Honduras.
In the nearly two years since, FTA negotiations with China have stalled and the nation’s trade deficit to China has grown.
Honduran Ministry of Economic Development data show that China’s exports to Honduras amount to about US$2 billion, while it only imports US$40 million from Honduras, mostly agricultural products like coffee.
This 50-1 trade disparity is the worst among Honduras’ trade relations, the ministry said.
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